Compact case construction



' p 5 r E 5. HULTGREN ETAL 3,342,190

' COMPACT CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 2, 1964 United States Patent 3,342,190 COMPACT CASE CONSTRUCTION Eric George Hultgren, Westport, and William James Landeu, Cheshire, Conu., assignors to The International Silver Company, Meritlen, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed July 2, 1964, Ser. No. 379,833 2 Claims. (Cl. 132-83) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Our invention relates to a case construction for a cosmetic compact or the like.

In recent years, competition has forced down the cost and quality of cosmetic compact cases, and this has been particularly true since the advent of plastic components in such articles. A strong demand exists for a case construction which will lend itself to utmost use of plastics, which will have a minimum of parts, which will be inherently rugged, and will be so inherently simple that cost may be held to a minimum.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved case construction which will inherently satisfy the above-noted demand.

A specific object is to achieve the above object with a structure which is self-locking and self-retaining as it is assembled, and without any requirement for permanent deformation of any part, during assembly.

' Another specific object is to meet the above objects with a structure inherently lending itself to retention of a high-quality mirror.

A further specific object is to meet the above objects with a basic structure, which, with minimum modification of an externally exposed part can be adapted to the unique esthetic-appearance requirements of each of a plurality of customers.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a compact case of the invention, shown in closed position;

3,342,190 Patented Sept. 19, 1967 plane 44 of FIG. 3, and illustrating hinge parts just prior to assembly;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4 and illustrating successive stages of hinge assembly;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrating the assembled parts of the cover;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and illustrating the cover swung to closed position; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view to illustrate a detail of friction action associated with the hinge mechanism.

Briefly stated, our invention contemplates an improved cosmetic or the like compact case construction featuring ready adaptability to a variety of esthetically pleasing appearances and embodying a minimum of parts. Specifically, the invention lends itself to extensive utilization of molded-plastic parts and, while not requiring a separate hinge pin or pins, is nevertheless so inherently braced as to avoid shock to the hinge axis regardless of abuse, as long as the case is closed; in the use of molded plastic for certain parts We presently prefer to employ polypropylene. Once assembled, the parts are self-retaining, even when a high-quality separate mirror has been framed in the cover.

Referring to the drawings, our basic case in a preferred form is seen to include a base 10 and cover assembly 11 hingedly connected along one edge or side-wall portion.

The base comprises a closed bottom panel 12 and upstanding side-wall means which, in the rectangular prismatic form shown, involves two short side Walls 13-14 and two long side walls 15-16; hinge action occur at side wall 16. The concavity defined by walls 13 to 16,

- anchored to the bottom 12 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the case of FIG. 1, with and bottom 12, is capacitated to receive cosmetic substance, such as a preformed insert or cake of powder (not shown),'which may be adhesively secured in place or which may be tacked-in by rivet or the like means at one or more suitable small apertures 17 therein. For a smooth flush appearance of a closed case, with a degree of overlap at the fit to the cover 11, we provide a peripherally continuous set-back or relief of the outer surfaces of side walls 13 to 16, as best indicated at 18 for the wall 15 in FIG. 2. The upper edges of all side walls 13 to 16 preferably lie in a single plane, parallel to the bottom is used for referencing certain parts when the cover is closed, as will be explained.

The base 10, as shown, is a single piece of injectionmolded plastic, integrally formed with hinge-pin means for connection to the cover 11. As bestt shown in FIG. 3, the hinge side wall 16 is thicker than the other side walls and is grooved or slotted at spaced openings 19-20. The

bottom or inner surface 21 of each such slot opening is.

preferably fiat, rectangular, and oriented normal to the aforementioned plane of the upper edges of the side walls 13 to 16. Lateral walls 22 define opposed sides of the slot openings 19-20, and these openings are preferably of such depth as to define marginal shoulders 23 which are continuous to the plane of the upper edges of the side walls. The integral hinge-pin means is shown to comprise short studs 24, projecting along the hinge axis from each one of the lateral walls 22.

The hinged cover 11 may be formed from a single piece of plastic but in the form shown it is of multiple- 12; this plane or surfacepart construction in order to permit incorporation of a high-quality glass mirror 25 therein, and in order to selectively accommodate one of a number of different decorative styles of closure plate 26, which may be stamped from sheet metal and embossed with the customers unique decorative motif, suggested by the markings in FIG. 1. The mirror 25 is fitted in the locating recess 27 at the back side of a mirror frame 28 which may also be of molded plastic and is shown formed integrally with two spaced hinge members 29-30 of generally U-shaped crosssection.

As best shown in FIG. 4, each hinge member 29 (30) comprise two spaced legs 31-32, one (31) of which is longer than the other (32). The longer leg 31 is the means of integral connection to the frame 28 and is of generally rectangular flat configuration, preferably normal to the plane of the mirror frame 28. The width of leg 31, and also of the entire hinge member 29 (30) is preferably substantially co-extensive with the effective width of the related slot opening 19 (20), and the space between legs 31-32 is substantially the extent of the diameter of hinge-pin means 24.. Finally, the clearance between the short leg 32 and the mirror frame 28 is such as to permit slidable entry of the hinge-pin means 24 under the short leg 32, when assembling the cover 11 to the base 10.

In assembling the described parts, the mirror frame 28 and the base 10 are first assembled to each other, in the succession of steps illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6. This involves first orienting these parts (FIG. 4) in what corresponds to full-open relation (180 removed from closed position). The parts are then laterally shifted to the FIG. position, where pin means 24 has cleared the short leg 32 and has been stopped by the long leg 31. The hinge members 29 (30) are then pressed down so that pin means 24 may be received in the space between legs 31-32, preferably resting against the bottom of the U- shape, as shown in FIG. 6. We retain this desired position by forming the inner surface of one leg (32) with a detent projection 33 which sufficiently narrows the span of the U-shape that pin means 24 must interfere with and snap past the detent 33. It will be understood that the nature of the U-shaped of hinge members 29-30, and the material of which they are made, are such as to establish stifliy yielding (i.e., snap) action in the described detent mechanism, and that, once assembled, a hinged relation of the parts is held, in the absence of strong abusive disassembling forces.

Once the hinge assembly is completed, as just described, the remaining cover parts may be assembled. This involves locating mirror 25 in its recess 27 at the inner edges of the opening in frame 28. The desired decorative closure-plate member 26 is then snapped in place over the back of frame 28 and mirror 25. For this purpose, closure-plate member 26 is cup-shaped, being formed with a peripherally continuous skirt 34 which conforms to the contour of the side walls 13 to 16; skirt 34 preferably projects beyond the plane of frame 28 to an extent permitting locating overlap with the peripheral recess or shoulder 18, near the upper edges of side walls 13 to 16. In the form shown, snap-retention of the cover parts involves spaced projecting lugs 35-36 along the opposed elongated edges of frame 28; these lugs are contoured for slight cam action with skirt 34 so that they may snap into small dimples or sockets 35-36' in the skirt 34. If desired, an additional snap lug 37 may be provided on the unhinged elongated side of frame 28, for snap retention in a suitable socket 37. Socket 37 is shown provided with an enlarged central portion 38 (FIG. 2) having less-positive snap engagement with a closure-retaining detent projection 38 formed centrally of the overlap shoulder 18.

In order to give a quality feel to the hinge action, we show provision of friction bumps or ridges, a at 39 (FIG. 9) on the lateral walls 22 of the hinge slot openings, and slightly offset from the hinge axis. The projecting extent of these bumps 39 is such as to establish a slight interference fit with hinge members 29-30, as the cover 11 is rotated between open and closed positions. It should be noted that in closed position (FIG. 8), the effective depth of the U-shape of hinge members 29 (30) with respect to the plane of frame 28 is such, in relation to the offset of hinge-pin means 24 from the plane of the upper edges of side walls 13 to 16, that closure of the cover 11 inherently clamps frame 28 against side walls 13 to 16, and that detent-retention at 38-38 so holds the outer closure member 26 as to thus inherently assure against loss or dislodgment of mirror 25, as long as the case is kept closed, and no matter what the abusive mechanical shock. To give a more solid feel, and accompanying quiet snap action at 38-38, a compressionally compliant member 40, such as a piece of stiff paper preformed with a relief pattern, may be compressed between mirror 25 and closure 26 upon assembly of the cover parts.

It will be seen that we have described an improved compact-case construction featuring optimized use of plastic parts, and adaptable to a variety of esthetioally pleasing outward appearances depending upon the embossing or other decor built into the closure member, which may be of stamped metal or plastic, as occasion may require. No separate pins are needed for assembly, and when the completed case is closed, it offers a maximum assurance of ruggedness and resistance to mechanical shock; for example, in addition to the inherent capacity to retain and protect the mirror 25, the interfit of hinge legs 31 in laterally supported relation with elongated shoulders 23 assures that these shoulders (rather than the hinge-pin means 24) sustain any mechanical shocks. Furthermore, once closure 26 is in place, its skirt 34 is so closely related to the bottom plane 12 of the base 10, even in the full-open position (see FIG. 7), that insufficient clearance is available to dislodge the hinge connection. In satisfying the unique demands of many customers, the cost of special tooling is restricted to the closure member 26 alone, thus effecting great economies.

While we have described the invention in detail for the preferred form shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. A case for a compact or the like, comprising a base with peripherally extending side-wall means defining a concavity adapted to contain cosmetic or the like substance, and a cover hingedly connected to an edge portion of said base; said edge portion including two laterally outward projections having opposed side walls defining a slotted passage therebetween, and hinge-pin means carried by one of said projections and extending at least part of the slot span in the direction of the other projection; said cover comprising an inner frame part and an outer case part and including interengaging means for retaining the assembly of one of said parts to the other of said parts, the body of said frame part when so engaged being contained within said outer-case part with the peripheral wall of said outer-case part having a skirt rising continuously and clear of the body of said frame part, the skirt of said peripheral wall conforming generally to and peripherally overlapping the side-wall means of said base when in closed position; said frame part including a generally U-shaped hinge member projecting away from the general plane of the body of said frame and being of effective width substantially that of the span between said side walls, one of the legs of the U- shape being longer than, the other to at least the extent of the maximum offset of said hinge-pin means from the underside of said base, and the extent by which the shorter leg clears the adjacent part of the skirt being less than 5 the extent of said offset; whereby said frame part may be assembled to said base by way of said hinge member prior to assembly of said outer-case part to said frame par-t; and further whereby disassembly of the hinge connection is prevented, once said outer-case part has been assembled to said frame part.

2. A case according to claim 1, in which said cover includes a mirror retained between said frame part and said outer-case part upon engagement of said interengaging means.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,008 10/1929 Hauch 206-38 2,490,746 12/ 1949 Carpenter 20675 2,734,222 2/1956 Ki-ba 220--31 2,960,254 11/1960 Ki'ba 22031 3,077,282 2/1963 Eggers 22031 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. G. MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CASE FOR A COMPACT OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING A BASE WITH PERIPHERALLY EXTENDING SIDE-WALL MEANS DEFINING A CONCAVITY ADAPTED TO CONTAIN COSMETIC OR THE LIKE SUBSTANCE, AND A COVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO AN EDGE PORTION OF SAID BASE; SAID EDGE PORTION INCLUDING TWO LATERALLY OUTWARD PROJECTIONS HAVING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS DEFINING A SLOTTED PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN, AND HINGE-PIN MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID PROJECTIONS AND EXTENDING AT LEAST PART OF THE SLOT SPAN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OTHER PROJECTION; SAID COVER COMPRISING AN INNER FRAME PART AND AN OUTER CASE PART AND INCLUDING INTERENGAGING MEANS FOR RETAINING THE ASSEMBLY OF ONE OF SAID PARTS TO THE OTHER OF SAID PARTS, THE BODY OF SAID FRAME PART WHEN SO ENGAGED BEING CONTAINED WITHIN SAID OUTER-CASE PART WITH THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF SAID OUTER-CASE PART HAVING A SKIRT RISING CONTINUOUSLY AND CLEAR OF THE BODY OF SAID FRAME PART, THE SKIRT OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALL CONFORMING GENERALLY TO AND PERIPHERALLY OVERLAPPING THE SIDE-WALL MEANS OF SAID BASE WHEN IN CLOSED POSITION; SAID FRAME PART INCLUDING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED HINGE MEMBER PROJECTING AWAY FROM THE GENERAL PLANE OF THE BODY OF SAID FRAME AND BEING OF EFFECTIVE WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY THAT OF THE 